** Success ** 3rd Times A Charm Pikes Peak Run

[aviationfred]

 

We made it...... for 2 of us in attendance this was the 3rd attempt, spanning 10 years.

Returning riders from last year were, Alan Humes, Kurt Pierce and myself. Additional riders were Pat Conlon, Joe Keane, Tommy Laughery and my daughter Katie Greenlee.

The forecast for the weekend looked much better than last year. Tommy, myself and my daughter did the tent camping thing in Woodland Park. At 8600 feet in elevation, that is the highest I have ever pitched a tent.
Friday evening a few of us did make it to the Airplane Restaurant for dinner.
Saturdays weather was perfect. Nice and sunny from the start. An easy ride up to the visitor center and the bike lineup with Sasquatch. We got to our stopping point last year.... Devil's Playground and the Park Ranger checked everyone's windscreen sticker and let us pass for the final climb up to the Summit. The new building/Restaurant is really nice.

The ride down was pretty uneventful. There is a stopping point for a brake temperature check for cars and trucks.... we got waved on through. I did get to follow an older Goldwing with a sidecar for a few miles.

Lunch at Rudy's BBQ was very good. We had perfect timing. The monsoon rains came and went while we were eating. After lunch the group split up and went separate ways. A few of us visited The Garden of the Gods park. It was a quick visit as it was getting late in the afternoon.

The ride back to Kansas was uneventful.... 500 miles of long, boring straight roads. A few cattle feed lots that you could smell about the time you saw them.

I have decided to make this an Annual Event..... this will be a 1 day event and a destination ride. I will pick the location (town) and the actual unique destination. It will be a different location every year.

For 2024 the location will be Evergreen, Colorado and the destination will be the Echo Lake Lodge and the Summit of Mount Evans. From my understanding the mountain has officially been renamed Mount Blu Sky. Specific details will be given early 2024..... hope to see a good group again.


Fred

[aviationfred]

Photos

[aviationfred]

GPS elevation showing on Casper's altimeter, 14,126ft

Garden of the Gods

[Firehawk068]

Great Pictures Fred!

The weather was indeed perfect!
I got some pictures I'll share as well once I get into my Desktop at home.

The Clouds were awesome that day! We would round a hairpin-curve and at times we'd be above them. Sometimes we'd be below them, and other times they would be moving past us right at our level.......It was surreal.

I captured a whole bunch of great video footage from that ride.......I'll be putting together a nice Video, and I'll post a link to it here.
(please be patient, as I've had a very full riding-season and editing is a very time-consuming process. I have a lot of footage to get through)

For next year:
Yes, Mt. Evans has been re-named. It is now "Mt. Blue Sky"
Info about it can be found here: https://www.cpr.org/2023/09/15/mount-evans-mount-blue-sky-rename/#:~:text=The%20mountain%20that%20towers%20high,attended%20by%20about%2090%20people.
It is definitely a worthy destination, and is the Highest paved-road in North America.
The last time I was up there, you did not need a reservation. I believe now they are using a "Timed Reservation" system just like the National Parks.
The views are absolutely stunning! and there are always Mountain-Goats at the top.

[Firehawk068]

Some Pictures from the Day

[Firehawk068]

A few more.

Video coming soon!

[Firehawk068]

I know I'm late with the Video, but here's the Link.
Give it a watch!
Enjoy!

[aviationfred]

Absolutely brilliant editing.

Here is info for the 2024 Colorado ride.

https://ridemsta.com/co-sht/


Fred

[Bones]

Fantastic video Alan, you have quite the knack for putting footage together and making enjoyable content.

[Firehawk068]

Fantastic video Alan, you have quite the knack for putting footage together and making enjoyable content.

Thanks! I'm definitely getting better at it...........The learning-curve is getting easier.
I try to keep one thought in mind: "What would I find entertaining to watch?" It usually translates into something that others' find entertaining as well.....(not always, but usually)